where do platypuses live

Platypuses live exclusively in Australia, mainly in freshwater systems such as rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. Their range extends along the east and southeast coast of mainland Australia from northern Queensland to Victoria, and throughout Tasmania. They prefer habitats with stable river or stream banks for burrowing, native vegetation for cover, and water bodies with coarser substrates like cobbles and gravel, which support their prey. Platypuses are also found from tropical lowland rainforests to cold alpine streams. They are mostly nocturnal and spend much of their day in burrows dug into riverbanks. Introduced populations exist on Kangaroo Island, but platypuses are extinct in parts of South Australia they previously inhabited. Overall, the platypus favors freshwater environments with certain structural features that support their feeding and shelter needs.